THE LEATHER FRAUDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7848, 10 July 1911, Page 7

THE LEATHER FRAUDS

PARTICIPANTS SENTENCED AN APPEAL FOR MITIGATION. By Telegraph— Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, July 7. At tbo trial of Thomas Loonan Knight for conspiring with John Bowron to defraud Messrs Booth Bros., skin merchants, of £28,670, Mr Travers Humphreys, prosecuting counsel, said tho books showed that Knight was tho defendants’ dock manager, without whoso signature tlio frauds were impossible. Ho borrowed from tho firm £8460, and his son borrowed £2394. Nothing was repaid. Mr Muir, in mitigation of tho sentence on John Boifron, urged the defendant’s age, and the fact that ho had not made provision for his family out of tho disaster. Tire turnover of tho business in London was £300,000 per annum. For many years past tbo firm’s capital had not exceeded £35,090 or £40,000. Tho Bowron family had lost £131,000 in the mattor. Sir F. A. Bosauquet, Common Sergeant, in passing sentence, said the defendants had been guilty of grave mercantile frauds. It would have been far better had tho firm gono into liquidation when in difficulties, instead of continuing in. the speculative hope that trade would boom. There was no difference in tlio cases of the accused, and but for bis ago and the fact of John Bowron not putting by large sums he would have pronounced a sentence of penal servitude. Both tho accused were sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment. John Bowron is 68 years of age. Knight is 6'.